For Honor is very much a game about war. You’ll have to battle against massive armies which include human controlled warriors in order to take over territories and find a home for yourself, and the rest of your faction. Unlike most games of its kind, For Honor doesn’t just throw in two different teams wearing different colors. Instead, there are three distinct factions in the game that have their own unique approaches to battle, even though they share the same classes.
There are the Knights, the Vikings, and the Samurai. Three factions that are brought to this one nation simply to live and survive but are thrust into a never-ending conflict with the rest of the world in ruins. While Ubisoft Montreal could’ve easily made the factions little more than alternate skins for the same classes, it actually goes a bit deeper than that. To help you gain a better understanding of each, we’re going to break down each faction for you.
Knights
Knights are your typical, chivalrous order of warriors, though the ones in For Honor are far from chivalrous. Like their enemies, they are in it for the long haul, willing to go through anyone that stands in their way as they vie for supremacy. The Knights’ approach to battle is one that relies primarily on defensive capabilities for the majority of their heroes that have been revealed so far.
As is to be expected, this faction dons itself in heavy armor, with the only exception being the Peacekeeper who goes for more of a leather/steel hybrid armor set. This pushes them to rely on shields, and wide sweeps with large swords to keep enemies at bay. With a mix of high defense and straightforward combat that allows for the interruption of enemy moves, they are the easiest of the factions to dive into.
The one exception to the faction is the Peacekeeper that was previously mentioned. She is the Knights’ Assassin and is the swiftest of all the warriors in the game. She lacks defense, being easily stumbled by enemy attacks, but she more than makes up for that with stealth and her ability to quickly dodge any incoming attacks. She’s one of the toughest warriors to play as, but once you get the hang of her she’s just as reliable as anyone else in her faction.
All in all, this is possibly the most balanced of the three factions, and will be a great starting faction for newcomers.
Vikings
The Viking faction is extraordinarily aggressive, relying on harassment-styled attacks and abilities to keep opponents off balance. This combat style is a perfect counterpoint to their lack of defense when compared to the Knights. They rely on relentless attack chains that force opponents into defensive stances as they retreat to get their bearings.
Of course, being aggressive often also means being vulnerable. The Viking faction doesn’t exactly cover up very well. After all, how are they going to show off their amazing tattoos if they’re donning full suits of steel. The lack of heavy armor does provide a lot of mobility, though, allowing Viking warriors to deflect attacks, stun enemies, and use throws to keep opponents down and away.
Like all the factions, the Vikings aren’t without their exception, which comes in the form of the Warlord. This is a highly armored warrior who can defend from all directions at once, while also using their shields and attacking at the same time. This makes them highly unique on For Honor’s battleground. In many ways, they are the noble Knights of the Vikings, which adds a bit of balance to the conflict while still allowing you to play as your favorite group.
Samurai
The Samurai are the toughest faction to play as from a technical standpoint, but they are very well balanced against their enemies. What makes the Samurai stand out in For Honor is their impeccable range during melee combat. All factions have access to ranged attacks through abilities and special skills you can unlock, but the Samurai have a greater reach with just their base weapons, allowing them to dance on the edge of a battle while coaxing enemies to come in close. This makes them formidable against both the aggressive Vikings and the powerful Knights.
Like the Vikings, the Samurai utilize chain attacks to take down foes, building combos in order to deal massive damage. Their level of defense, though, falls between the other two factions, offering a decent balance in that regard. What makes them a bit more difficult to utilize, however, is their speed. The Kensei is slow but has a powerful unblockable high attack and great range. The Orochi is much faster and has the ability to deflect, but its speed is not as useful for dodging as the Knights’ Peacekeeper. Then there’s the Shugoki, the newest Samurai warrior revealed.
This is a large, hulking brute that relies on a large health pool and very high damage to come out on top. They can knock back opponents who manage to get close, and rely on drawing foes in in groups since they are a primary target in most encounters. Their lack of speed makes them stand out like a sore thumb, and lighter warriors can easily whittle down their health by outflanking them. But they can easily clear out multiple enemies with a single swing.
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